Create a query from a Z_AXIS

monroe_weber_shirk

I am using circularPattern in FeatureScript. It requires the axis of rotation as a query. I want to rotate around the Z_AXIS. How do I convert the Z_AXIS into a query?

antlu65

I was wondering the same awhile back. I don't know if this helps, but you might consider using 'opPattern' with 'rotationAround' instead of 'circularPattern'. That's what I ended up doing.

Example here:

const axis = Z_AXIS;
var Ta = [];   // Array of transforms to apply.
var names = [];   // Array of instance names.
for (var i = 1; i < n; i += 1)
{
   Ta = append(Ta, rotationAround(axis, i*360*degree / n));
   names = append(names, toString(i));
}
opPattern(context, patternId, {
   "entities" : qEntity,
   "transforms" : Ta,
   "instanceNames" : names
});

For patterning bodies and faces, this should produce the same result as using 'circularPattern'. A benefit is you aren't restricted to rotations about an axis.

monroe_weber_shirk

Thank you! This side steps the problem and is a great general solution.

EvanReese

The circularPattern feature is looking for a query, as you found. opPattern just uses transforms and is the better solution like you said. If you ever needed to get a query of a line for an axis you have to create the actual geometry and then delete it. You could make a sketch line on the front or right plane; a sketch circle on the top plane; a mate connector at the origin; or a 2-point fit spline. There may be others too, but generally opPattern will be easier to code (though less like actual modeling), and faster to regenerate.

Jacob_Corder

if you want the Top plane to get the z axis from, you can simply call qCreatedBy(makeId("Top"),EntityType.FACE)

annotation { "Feature Type Name" : "top plane axis" }

export const topPlaneAxis = defineFeature(function(context is Context, id is Id, definition is map)

    precondition

    {

       

    }

    {

       var topPlane = qCreatedBy(makeId("Top"),EntityType.FACE);

       addDebugEntities(context, topPlane, DebugColor.RED);

       var tPlane = evPlane(context, {

               "face" : topPlane

       });

       addDebugArrow(context, tPlane.origin, (tPlane.normal*25*millimeter) + tPlane.origin, 5 * millimeter, DebugColor.RED);

    });

default features should always exist.  I am not saying this is the way to do it, but it is a way to do it.

monroe_weber_shirk

Jacob, this is a long overdue response that got lost in my drafts! Thank you! This code is great. I think one of my challenges in writing FS code is that it is hard to know how to search for these code examples.

Jacob_Corder

I just noticed this also. you can just call  

qTopPlane(EntityType.FACE);  

but you can also simply do this.

plane(vector(0,0,0)*meter,vector(0,0,1));
or

plane( WORLD_ORIGIN,Z_AXIS);
or even faster
plane( WORLD_ORIGIN,Z_AXIS,X_AXIS);
and even faster yet
 {"origin":WORLD_ORIGIN,"normal": Z_AXIS,"x": X_AXIS} as Plane;// this i believe bypasses the plane function to normalize already normalized vectors.